To enhance security in explosion-hit Zaveri Bazar, 22 local associations have decided to prohibit visitors from taking their cars or taxis near the shops.

To enhance security in explosion-hit Zaveri Bazar, 22 local associations have decided to prohibit visitors from taking their cars or taxis near the shops.

However, there will be golf cars (small vehicles designed originally to carry two golfers each) to take people to their destinations. But in order to take a golf car, a person will have to walk about 500 metres to 1 km from the place where they will be required to leave their vehicles.

Mumbai Jewellers' Association vice-president Kumar Jain said the associations had requested the police to frequently conduct security checks in the area with the help of sniffer dogs. "We have agreed to pay for this," Jain said.

The initial cost of security arrangements, which include cordoning off all the 22 lanes (for vehicular entry), placing metal detectors on each of them, installing CCTVs in the area, setting up benches, creating gardens and a year's payment for sniffer-dog checks, would come close to Rs80 lakh, he said.

The associations have blocked the lanes in the area with barricades. Municipal Corporation.

"Blocking these lanes is necessary from the security point of view," Jain said.

The associations have decided to buy at least three battery-operated golf cars, expected to arrive in three months.

"Senior citizens and handicapped people will get priority in using them," said Jain, adding for the first three months the golf cars would be free.